Gisèle Pelicot, a figure symbolizing the fight for the dignity of victims of sexual violence, has published an autobiographical book titled 'Hymn to Life'. Following a high-profile trial in which her husband and dozens of other men were convicted for years of rape, the woman describes the trauma of living in ignorance. Her story, which shook public opinion in 2024, becomes a manifesto against the stigmatization of victims and societal tolerance for violence hidden behind a mask of apparent normality.

Publication of an autobiographical book

Gisèle Pelicot has published a memoir titled 'Hymn to Life', in which she comes to terms with 50 years of marriage and the trauma of gang rapes.

Manifesto against shame

A key message from Pelicot is shifting the social stigma from victims to perpetrators of violence, which became the foundation of her media activism.

Landmark court trial

In 2024, Pelicot's husband and 50 other men were convicted, considered the largest rape trial in the history of modern France.

Gisèle Pelicot, whose trial in 2024 became one of the most significant legal and social events in France, returns with a poignant testimony titled 'Hymn to Life'. For a decade, she was a victim of her own husband, Dominique Pelicot, who systematically administered strong intoxicants to her and then invited strange men to their shared home in Mazan to rape her. This criminal enterprise was discovered accidentally in 2020 when the man was caught filming under the skirts of customers in a supermarket, leading investigators to a collection of recordings documenting years of nightmare. In her publication, Pelicot focuses on the concept of chemical submission and the painful discovery of the truth about the man with whom she spent nearly 50 years. The author emphasizes that her decision to forego anonymity was a conscious political act. She wanted the trial to be held with open doors, believing that 'shame must change sides' – from victims to perpetrators. The book is not merely a description of suffering but, above all, proof of incredible mental resilience and an attempt to reclaim agency after years of objectification. The concept of 'marital rape' was only criminalized in France in 1990, and the Pelicot case became an impetus for debate over changing the definition of consent in the country's penal code. Now 72-year-old Gisèle Pelicot lives on the Île de Ré, where she is trying to rebuild her life, finding peace in classical music and walks by the ocean. Her stance has inspired thousands of women across Europe to speak out loudly about the wrongs they have suffered. „I wanted the shame to shift to the other side... Shame must be carried by the accused, not the victims.” — Gisèle Pelicot This message resonates particularly strongly in the context of convictions for over 50 accused who participated in the criminal enterprise, often pleading ignorance of the victim's condition in court.

Mentioned People

  • Gisèle Pelicot — The main protagonist of the case, a victim of years of rape, author of the book 'Hymn to Life'.
  • Dominique Pelicot — Gisèle's husband, the main perpetrator, who for a decade drugged his wife and enabled her rape by other men.
  • Victoria Derbyshire — British journalist who conducted an interview with Pelicot for the BBC.